Why Do People Snore?

Summary

Why do people snore? Several factors contribute to snoring. Snoring may also be a sign of a more serious health condition that hinders normal breathing while a person sleeps.

Why Do People Snore?

Nearly 90 million Americans snore at certain points in their lives and 37 million others snore regularly, with more men reporting snoring than women, 42% and 31%, respectively, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

Snoring may be harmless, but it’s another story if you keep waking up throughout the night because of it, resulting in the next day’s frustration of feeling tired all day. 

But why do people snore?

Snoring Causes

Several factors contribute to snoring.  

Snoring may also be a sign of a more serious health condition that hinders normal breathing while a person sleeps. 

1. People suffering from colds, sinus infections, or allergies may have a stuffy nose that blocks breathing and results in snoring. 
2. Excessive weight or obesity can cause bulky throat tissue in the neck area, eventually narrowing airways and worsening snoring episodes. 
3. Weak muscle tone in the tongue and mouth can cause snoring.  
4. A too-long uvula or palate narrows the opening between your throat and nose, a condition that affects breathing. 
5. Pregnancy, particularly in the last month, with changes in hormones, can cause tissue swelling in the nose and nasal congestion while sleeping.
6. Alcohol drinkers and those taking certain medications can suffer from muscle relaxation that worsens snoring.
7. If you’re a back sleeper, you may find yourself snoring.

Snoring Can Be a Sign of a More Serious Health Problem

Regular snoring may be due to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).  

Loud snoring broken up by breathing pauses and loud gasps or snorts while a person takes another breath characterizes OSA, a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Sleep apnea sufferers experience interruptions or pauses throughout sleep, sometimes up to 30 times per hour. 

When this happens, the blood oxygen levels drop, and the brain signals you to wake up to breathe, leading to an adrenaline surge in the body. And that causes the heart to work harder.

It’s not only cardiovascular disease that you need to worry about if your snoring is related to obstructive sleep apnea. There are other health complications.

Snoring affects your quality of life because both the quantity and quality of your sleep are affected. You may experience:

• Daytime sleepiness that can increase your risk of vehicular accidents
• Increased risk for other health conditions:
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Obesity

Your body needs adequate sleep to help repair and heal itself.

It’s important to get to the root cause of your snoring so that you can receive the best treatment for your situation. 

Once your snoring is a thing of the past, you will be amazed at the high-quality sleep you are able to get each night. And that will help you not only feel rested, but support your productivity, help you handle stress, and lower your risk for diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity. 

Your Dentist Can Help with Snoring

Because snoring can actually be a sign of a more serious underlying condition, such as sleep apnea, appropriate diagnosis and treatment is crucial. 

This is why it’s important to see your dentist if you’re experiencing frequent snoring. A dentist can examine your oral cavity and airway to determine the cause of your snoring and recommend appropriate treatment.

Here at Aligned Healing we will create a customized comprehensive treatment plan for you that uses a noninvasive, cost-effective oral appliance to correct the issue.

One of the methods we use is the Vivos Method, which is a revolutionary treatment for mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. Vivos does not require surgery, it is non-invasive, highly effective, and has a limited treatment time. 

In combination with the Vivos appliance, we use the DEKA laser to enhance results. The DEKA QuietNite laser is a quick and non-invasive procedure that can be performed in fifteen minutes or less to improve snoring.

TALK TO US ABOUT SNORING SOLUTIONS TODAY!